WEBVTT 00:00:00.170 --> 00:00:03.069 Welcome to Drumbeats, the must -listen -to podcast 00:00:03.069 --> 00:00:05.730 which explains why Indigenous partnerships are 00:00:05.730 --> 00:00:08.689 the key to securing successful outcomes in natural 00:00:08.689 --> 00:00:11.070 resource and infrastructure investment in Canada. 00:00:13.050 --> 00:00:15.650 I'm Martin McNack and my co -host Robert Brandt 00:00:15.650 --> 00:00:18.390 and I are talking about the upcoming 2025 Canadian 00:00:18.390 --> 00:00:20.969 Indigenous Investment Summit. It will be held 00:00:20.969 --> 00:00:23.690 on the 10th of April at the London Stock Exchange 00:00:23.690 --> 00:00:26.640 in the City of London. With Trump's impending 00:00:26.640 --> 00:00:28.679 tariff announcements targeting major trading 00:00:28.679 --> 00:00:30.960 partners, this summit presents a particularly 00:00:30.960 --> 00:00:34.060 timely opportunity to look at a critical economic 00:00:34.060 --> 00:00:36.619 story at the intersection of Indigenous partnerships, 00:00:36.960 --> 00:00:39.039 international trade, and investment resilience. 00:00:39.640 --> 00:00:41.820 This will be the largest gathering of Indigenous 00:00:41.820 --> 00:00:45.340 leaders from North America ever held in the UK 00:00:45.340 --> 00:00:47.500 in modern times and comes at a crucial moment 00:00:47.500 --> 00:00:50.740 when Canadian -UK trade relationships are gaining 00:00:50.740 --> 00:00:54.619 renewed strategic importance. Good morning, Rob. 00:00:55.000 --> 00:00:58.299 Great to see you. Morning, Mark. You too. So 00:00:58.299 --> 00:01:00.020 we're a couple of weeks out from the summit, 00:01:00.079 --> 00:01:02.840 which is really exciting. And in England today, 00:01:02.920 --> 00:01:05.219 I think the temperature is going to hit 16 or 00:01:05.219 --> 00:01:08.599 17 degrees and it's sunny. So how's life in Toronto? 00:01:09.680 --> 00:01:12.099 Well, it's all happening here in Canada too. 00:01:12.159 --> 00:01:13.980 We're in the middle of an election now. That 00:01:13.980 --> 00:01:18.799 was called a week or so ago. And the leaders 00:01:18.799 --> 00:01:22.950 are hot on the campaign trail. I was at a luncheon 00:01:22.950 --> 00:01:25.189 yesterday with the Assembly of First Nations 00:01:25.189 --> 00:01:31.629 Grand Chief, who spoke with Tabitha Bull, the 00:01:31.629 --> 00:01:35.769 President and CEO of the Canadian Council on 00:01:35.769 --> 00:01:39.049 Indigenous Business. Fantastic. And Tabitha is 00:01:39.049 --> 00:01:41.030 coming to the summit, isn't she? Absolutely. 00:01:41.810 --> 00:01:45.129 So they were both on stage talking about what 00:01:45.129 --> 00:01:47.989 they were hoping to see. on the platforms from 00:01:47.989 --> 00:01:50.689 the major parties as the election evolves on 00:01:50.689 --> 00:01:54.189 Indigenous issues. So with the parties, it's 00:01:54.189 --> 00:01:57.269 a two -horse race in Canada, which it is most 00:01:57.269 --> 00:01:59.750 of the time at the federal level between the 00:01:59.750 --> 00:02:03.329 Liberals, the former party of Prime Minister 00:02:03.329 --> 00:02:07.150 Justin Trudeau, and now the home of Mark Carney, 00:02:07.329 --> 00:02:09.610 Prime Minister Mark Carney, who's obviously well 00:02:09.610 --> 00:02:11.930 -known over here, former governor of the Bank 00:02:11.930 --> 00:02:15.189 of England in Canada, former Bank of Canada governor. 00:02:15.849 --> 00:02:18.949 as well. So he's led a resurgence in the polls 00:02:18.949 --> 00:02:22.310 for the liberals. And on the conservative side, 00:02:22.590 --> 00:02:26.789 it's being led by Pierre Politov. And the conservatives, 00:02:26.830 --> 00:02:30.009 as they're called in Canada, have been riding 00:02:30.009 --> 00:02:35.770 high in the polls until actually Trump started 00:02:35.770 --> 00:02:38.530 to get involved and started to attack the country. 00:02:38.810 --> 00:02:42.189 And I think Justin Trudeau had some of his finest 00:02:42.189 --> 00:02:48.300 moments in defending And there was a leadership 00:02:48.300 --> 00:02:52.439 election in the Liberal Party. And like in the 00:02:52.439 --> 00:02:56.419 UK here, whoever wins the party, if you're governing, 00:02:56.539 --> 00:02:58.599 whoever becomes party leader automatically becomes 00:02:58.599 --> 00:03:00.580 prime minister. So Prime Minister Mark Carney, 00:03:00.699 --> 00:03:03.800 we now have. He made a flying visit over here 00:03:03.800 --> 00:03:09.219 to see. President Macron of France. And then 00:03:09.219 --> 00:03:11.199 he came to the United Kingdom to meet with Prime 00:03:11.199 --> 00:03:13.460 Minister Starmer. And of course, to meet the 00:03:13.460 --> 00:03:16.340 King of Canada, who resides in the UK most of 00:03:16.340 --> 00:03:20.300 the time, King Charles III, and then came back 00:03:20.300 --> 00:03:23.560 and called an election last week. So this is, 00:03:23.580 --> 00:03:26.639 on one hand, it's a great time for Canada to 00:03:26.639 --> 00:03:29.740 be having an election so we can agree who is 00:03:29.740 --> 00:03:35.069 the team to best represent Canada in these. Trump 00:03:35.069 --> 00:03:39.909 times, terrible times, right? So what do you 00:03:39.909 --> 00:03:45.509 think in terms of the Indigenous people and the 00:03:45.509 --> 00:03:48.009 political platforms as stated at the moment? 00:03:48.629 --> 00:03:50.949 Is there a difference between the two parties? 00:03:52.729 --> 00:03:56.509 It's hard to tell at the outset of the campaign. 00:03:56.569 --> 00:03:59.669 They haven't fully developed their platforms 00:03:59.669 --> 00:04:04.169 yet. and they'll be rolling those out over the 00:04:04.169 --> 00:04:07.050 next couple of weeks. It's a very short election 00:04:07.050 --> 00:04:10.550 cycle here. The election was called, and the 00:04:10.550 --> 00:04:17.029 vote will happen in a six -week period. But like 00:04:17.029 --> 00:04:19.509 you said, it's been a remarkable comeback by 00:04:19.509 --> 00:04:22.569 the Liberals, governing Liberals, who were 20 00:04:22.569 --> 00:04:27.470 points behind in the polls until early this year. 00:04:27.589 --> 00:04:32.189 The resurgence has been driven. by the debate 00:04:32.189 --> 00:04:37.310 with the US around tariffs, and that has emboldened 00:04:37.310 --> 00:04:41.209 the Liberals under Mark Carney, who is seen by 00:04:41.209 --> 00:04:45.629 some as being involved in working through economic 00:04:45.629 --> 00:04:50.189 crises in Canada and in the UK over many years. 00:04:50.389 --> 00:04:55.790 And so he's led that resurgence. They're pretty 00:04:55.790 --> 00:05:00.649 even in the polls going in. and it will probably 00:05:00.649 --> 00:05:03.649 be a very tight election. Mr. Carney is not tested 00:05:03.649 --> 00:05:06.569 as a politician, so we don't know how he'll do 00:05:06.569 --> 00:05:11.769 as a campaigner. That's all to be seen. Yes, 00:05:11.810 --> 00:05:14.350 well, interesting times. And I think one thing 00:05:14.350 --> 00:05:17.230 they've both talked about, both party leaders, 00:05:17.449 --> 00:05:25.220 is the importance of speeding up the... launch 00:05:25.220 --> 00:05:27.660 and development and execution and turn them on 00:05:27.660 --> 00:05:31.740 of infrastructure projects. And I think both 00:05:31.740 --> 00:05:34.699 have acknowledged the Indigenous people of Canada, 00:05:34.819 --> 00:05:38.660 as per UNDRIP and Section 35, you know, have 00:05:38.660 --> 00:05:41.139 free prior and informed consent to what's going 00:05:41.139 --> 00:05:45.240 on. And what I have been pleased to see is that 00:05:45.240 --> 00:05:49.680 they are involving the Indigenous leaders. from 00:05:49.680 --> 00:05:52.360 business and of strong communities at the moment 00:05:52.360 --> 00:05:54.680 and recognizing that there is a role in Canada, 00:05:54.759 --> 00:05:58.120 which is really the first election in history 00:05:58.120 --> 00:06:00.079 that I can recall, Rob, where they've actually 00:06:00.079 --> 00:06:03.439 talked about that issue at such a high level, 00:06:03.500 --> 00:06:07.399 about economic contribution, of course, economic 00:06:07.399 --> 00:06:10.240 reconciliation and social reconciliation. But 00:06:10.240 --> 00:06:13.639 now they're both talking that, yes, the Indigenous 00:06:13.639 --> 00:06:18.079 peoples are partners in making a success. of 00:06:18.079 --> 00:06:22.519 the future of the country. Yeah, I agree. I mean, 00:06:22.560 --> 00:06:25.120 for our former Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, 00:06:25.120 --> 00:06:29.439 to give him some dues, he was very unpopular 00:06:29.439 --> 00:06:33.480 by the end of his almost 10 -year reign. But 00:06:33.480 --> 00:06:37.439 on the Indigenous file, he probably advanced 00:06:37.439 --> 00:06:42.540 economic reconciliation more than any other Prime 00:06:42.540 --> 00:06:45.180 Minister in history. There's still lots to be 00:06:45.180 --> 00:06:48.920 done. Yes. But a lot of progress was made, and 00:06:48.920 --> 00:06:53.139 the fact that Indigenous peoples and their issues 00:06:53.139 --> 00:06:55.220 are front and centre, and the fact that they're 00:06:55.220 --> 00:06:59.379 seen as important members at the table in these 00:06:59.379 --> 00:07:03.399 discussions, whether it's with the US or in discussions 00:07:03.399 --> 00:07:06.279 with Europe and other parties, they're at the 00:07:06.279 --> 00:07:10.160 table now, and that is different. And that's 00:07:10.160 --> 00:07:12.600 a recognition of the way things have evolved 00:07:12.600 --> 00:07:15.860 in Canada and the place that Indigenous people 00:07:15.860 --> 00:07:21.290 have. in the economy and that's a good representation 00:07:21.290 --> 00:07:24.829 of how things have evolved yes and i think one 00:07:24.829 --> 00:07:27.949 of the really interesting things coming out at 00:07:27.949 --> 00:07:30.949 the moment we've talked about this before people 00:07:30.949 --> 00:07:33.730 who are not from north america let's talk from 00:07:33.730 --> 00:07:36.829 the uk or or on the continent over here in europe 00:07:36.829 --> 00:07:40.569 as an example sometimes have tended to say well 00:07:40.569 --> 00:07:42.569 there's not too many i can't really tell the 00:07:42.569 --> 00:07:46.829 difference uh between Canadians and Americans. 00:07:47.970 --> 00:07:51.610 Certainly in the past few weeks and months, that 00:07:51.610 --> 00:07:54.430 difference has become very evident in terms of 00:07:54.430 --> 00:07:56.810 how Canadians approach treaties and rights and 00:07:56.810 --> 00:08:00.129 responsibilities. But, you know, Canada is just 00:08:00.129 --> 00:08:04.189 a middle country like the UK and countries on 00:08:04.189 --> 00:08:07.290 the continent. But I think something that is 00:08:07.290 --> 00:08:10.389 beginning to be appreciated more and more is 00:08:10.389 --> 00:08:12.490 that they are two different societies and have 00:08:12.490 --> 00:08:16.779 evolved differently. So I don't see any discussion 00:08:16.779 --> 00:08:22.100 about Indigenous reconciliation, economic or 00:08:22.100 --> 00:08:26.639 social, in the U .S. It's, you know, my perspective 00:08:26.639 --> 00:08:30.220 is it's a historical issue. Whereas in Canada, 00:08:30.379 --> 00:08:34.240 it's our issue today to resolve. Do you have 00:08:34.240 --> 00:08:36.879 that same perspective, Rob? Because you've, you 00:08:36.879 --> 00:08:39.539 know, traveled all over and lived abroad as well. 00:08:39.799 --> 00:08:43.919 Yeah, I mean, I think Canada is unique in the 00:08:43.919 --> 00:08:46.519 world and it's not just not happening in the 00:08:46.519 --> 00:08:48.980 US. There are many other parts of the world where 00:08:48.980 --> 00:08:53.440 Indigenous rights are not held the same regard 00:08:53.440 --> 00:08:56.220 that they are in Canada. And that's partly because 00:08:56.220 --> 00:09:00.720 Canadian law has evolved. The courts over the 00:09:00.720 --> 00:09:04.000 last couple of decades have been very clear and 00:09:04.000 --> 00:09:06.820 supportive of Indigenous rights. And that's whether 00:09:06.820 --> 00:09:10.980 it's interpreting treaty. rights, treaties that 00:09:10.980 --> 00:09:13.620 may have been signed a couple hundred years ago, 00:09:13.740 --> 00:09:17.940 or the inherent rights that Canadian courts have 00:09:17.940 --> 00:09:21.360 said that Indigenous peoples have and never have 00:09:21.360 --> 00:09:24.600 relinquished. Canadian courts have been pretty 00:09:24.600 --> 00:09:29.299 strong in support of Indigenous rights. You've 00:09:29.299 --> 00:09:31.799 mentioned the UN Declaration on the Rights of 00:09:31.799 --> 00:09:34.139 Indigenous Peoples and the requirement to get 00:09:34.139 --> 00:09:38.059 free prior informed consent. for any projects 00:09:38.059 --> 00:09:41.039 or work that has an effect on the Indigenous 00:09:41.039 --> 00:09:46.500 community. The Supreme Court, again, in Canada, 00:09:46.679 --> 00:09:52.200 in a recent federal court decision, are strengthening 00:09:52.200 --> 00:09:56.120 that and making it pretty clear. If business 00:09:56.120 --> 00:09:58.399 didn't already know it, but I think they'd come 00:09:58.399 --> 00:10:01.820 to the same conclusion anyway, if you want to 00:10:01.820 --> 00:10:04.940 get things done, you are going to have to have... 00:10:05.419 --> 00:10:09.139 the Indigenous peoples alongside you. Yes. And 00:10:09.139 --> 00:10:14.120 if we come back and just reflect on that role 00:10:14.120 --> 00:10:19.600 at the moment, you come across all the large 00:10:19.600 --> 00:10:22.200 businesses, McCarthy, Tetrell's, no exception. 00:10:22.659 --> 00:10:27.100 Okay. They have part of their business focused 00:10:27.100 --> 00:10:31.490 very clearly on the Indigenous peoples. Yeah, 00:10:31.529 --> 00:10:34.549 the Indigenous economy is expected to grow and 00:10:34.549 --> 00:10:39.269 is a real growth opportunity within Canada, which 00:10:39.269 --> 00:10:45.230 is seen as a very developed, mature, probably 00:10:45.230 --> 00:10:49.649 not a big growth market. But within that economy, 00:10:49.809 --> 00:10:52.110 you have an emerging economy, the Indigenous 00:10:52.110 --> 00:10:57.269 economy, and that definitely is growing. And 00:10:57.269 --> 00:11:00.870 so a firm like ours and many other... organizations 00:11:00.870 --> 00:11:06.190 in Canada are more and more focused on being 00:11:06.190 --> 00:11:09.690 a part of and helping grow that Indigenous economy. 00:11:09.850 --> 00:11:13.490 That's why I've moved back to Canada. Yes, settled 00:11:13.490 --> 00:11:15.889 back in Toronto, but still a frequent visitor 00:11:15.889 --> 00:11:19.049 over to London. Absolutely. So, you know, we're 00:11:19.049 --> 00:11:23.389 very happy about this. And I think coming back 00:11:23.389 --> 00:11:27.009 to that. I think one of the other things that's 00:11:27.009 --> 00:11:31.889 happening in this period of turmoil is Canada 00:11:31.889 --> 00:11:34.549 has historically, the provinces are very strong. 00:11:35.370 --> 00:11:43.250 They control natural resources. To some individuals, 00:11:43.350 --> 00:11:46.649 there's less free trade in Canada than there 00:11:46.649 --> 00:11:51.429 is in the European Union. I think what has come 00:11:51.429 --> 00:11:54.370 up very clearly from politicians at all levels, 00:11:54.490 --> 00:11:58.509 whether at the federal or provincial level, is 00:11:58.509 --> 00:12:02.830 that we need that single market across the country. 00:12:03.289 --> 00:12:08.789 And they're all talking about it. And some of 00:12:08.789 --> 00:12:10.929 the provinces are already starting to take action 00:12:10.929 --> 00:12:14.129 in that regard. So what you're also having at 00:12:14.129 --> 00:12:17.409 this time is a strengthening of the Canadian 00:12:17.409 --> 00:12:21.259 economy. through a reduction of internal barriers 00:12:21.259 --> 00:12:26.179 to trade, which means big infrastructure projects, 00:12:26.500 --> 00:12:32.379 one, can get done quicker, hopefully, and two, 00:12:32.500 --> 00:12:34.820 there's greater opportunity because the economic 00:12:34.820 --> 00:12:40.720 unit of the whole can be penetrated wherever 00:12:40.720 --> 00:12:44.419 you are in the country. It's no longer And I'm 00:12:44.419 --> 00:12:46.299 not calling out a particular province, but let's 00:12:46.299 --> 00:12:48.240 say it's no longer, you know, in Ontario, you 00:12:48.240 --> 00:12:51.179 have to be from Ontario to really participate 00:12:51.179 --> 00:12:53.919 and reach the market in the most effective manner. 00:12:54.159 --> 00:12:56.940 And pipelines historically have not gone across 00:12:56.940 --> 00:13:00.139 the country because there have been those internal 00:13:00.139 --> 00:13:02.519 barriers. In fact, some of the pipelines that 00:13:02.519 --> 00:13:06.980 serve the Maritimes actually start in the West 00:13:06.980 --> 00:13:11.440 and go south through America and then back up 00:13:11.440 --> 00:13:14.659 to reach the Maritimes. And of course, North 00:13:14.659 --> 00:13:18.220 America has been since the 90s with free trade 00:13:18.220 --> 00:13:21.779 under Brian Mulroney and Ronald Reagan, who are 00:13:21.779 --> 00:13:23.879 both probably turning in their graves at the 00:13:23.879 --> 00:13:26.639 moment with what's happening. And the other day, 00:13:26.659 --> 00:13:31.980 President Trump announced 25 % tariffs on automobiles 00:13:31.980 --> 00:13:35.639 not made in the US. And free trade in automobiles 00:13:35.639 --> 00:13:40.639 in Canada did not start with NAFTA even. It started 00:13:40.639 --> 00:13:42.279 something called the auto pack, I think, way 00:13:42.279 --> 00:13:45.860 back in the mid 60s, where the manufacturers, 00:13:46.000 --> 00:13:49.940 the big brands said, you know, we want to run 00:13:49.940 --> 00:13:53.279 this more efficiently. And where it was agreed 00:13:53.279 --> 00:13:56.940 that Cam would achieve approximately 10 % of 00:13:56.940 --> 00:14:01.480 the total market. And then it was set up. So 00:14:01.480 --> 00:14:04.620 there's been free trade in automobiles for nearly 00:14:04.620 --> 00:14:09.080 50 years. And that's now being all pulled apart. 00:14:09.740 --> 00:14:12.460 But at the same time, now, the Canadian economy 00:14:12.460 --> 00:14:15.159 is starting to come together, which will be great 00:14:15.159 --> 00:14:18.379 opportunities. So I think in that environment, 00:14:18.580 --> 00:14:20.480 why don't we talk about our upcoming summit? 00:14:21.019 --> 00:14:23.320 Because that's the context for the summit. So 00:14:23.320 --> 00:14:26.600 if Canada hasn't been on the radar, it probably 00:14:26.600 --> 00:14:30.120 should be now. And if it has been on your radar, 00:14:30.200 --> 00:14:31.720 actually, it's going to be a better and better 00:14:31.720 --> 00:14:35.639 time to invest in Canada. Because some of the 00:14:35.639 --> 00:14:38.679 barriers that have held back the speed that investment 00:14:38.679 --> 00:14:41.950 and... you know, shovels in the ground can happen. 00:14:41.990 --> 00:14:43.629 It looks like some of that's going to change. 00:14:44.470 --> 00:14:47.870 Yeah, somebody said, don't waste a good crisis. 00:14:47.889 --> 00:14:50.370 And one of the benefits that might come out of 00:14:50.370 --> 00:14:55.110 this tariff war is a realization by Canadians 00:14:55.110 --> 00:14:59.409 as a whole that we've been so reliant on the 00:14:59.409 --> 00:15:04.029 U .S. to buy our goods, to defend our borders, 00:15:04.230 --> 00:15:09.690 that we've not spent enough time. with other 00:15:09.690 --> 00:15:12.029 friends around the world. And so Mark Carney's 00:15:12.029 --> 00:15:16.750 first trip as Prime Minister was to Paris and 00:15:16.750 --> 00:15:21.330 then to London. He then went to the Arctic and 00:15:21.330 --> 00:15:27.230 met with Inuit leaders there. And he mentioned 00:15:27.230 --> 00:15:30.649 possibility of pipelines, which going across 00:15:30.649 --> 00:15:34.669 Canada, which wasn't a possibility before. This 00:15:34.669 --> 00:15:37.649 crisis, the Quebec premier has said, yeah, maybe 00:15:37.649 --> 00:15:40.330 there's a change of mood in Quebec and maybe 00:15:40.330 --> 00:15:43.669 pipeline coming through and into Quebec from 00:15:43.669 --> 00:15:49.029 out west is not the worst idea. So you're starting 00:15:49.029 --> 00:15:53.129 to see people work on some of the problems that 00:15:53.129 --> 00:15:58.350 were not possible to be solved before this crisis. 00:15:58.960 --> 00:16:02.759 And you're seeing an outreach beyond the U .S. 00:16:02.820 --> 00:16:06.840 like you've never seen before. And so the timing 00:16:06.840 --> 00:16:10.159 for our second summit, we've got a lot of excitement 00:16:10.159 --> 00:16:14.080 amongst Indigenous leaders, chiefs, business 00:16:14.080 --> 00:16:19.460 leaders, speakers and sponsors from coast to 00:16:19.460 --> 00:16:21.820 coast in Canada, the far north and the Arctic, 00:16:22.000 --> 00:16:26.659 wanting to come to London to talk to Europeans. 00:16:27.659 --> 00:16:31.899 and Brits and potential investors and partners 00:16:31.899 --> 00:16:37.039 in places other than the US. Yes, and it's great. 00:16:37.100 --> 00:16:39.580 So we've got a lot of people waiting here for 00:16:39.580 --> 00:16:42.519 everyone to show up. As you said, most of the 00:16:42.519 --> 00:16:45.659 audience at the moment is from the UK, but we 00:16:45.659 --> 00:16:47.419 have some people already from the continent. 00:16:47.850 --> 00:16:50.470 Looking forward to learn more and to continue 00:16:50.470 --> 00:16:52.529 this journey and see what the opportunities are. 00:16:52.649 --> 00:16:55.789 Because Europe and the UK are also looking, well, 00:16:55.830 --> 00:16:59.509 if everything's getting rewired, who can we work 00:16:59.509 --> 00:17:03.309 with? And just one of the initiatives is Canada, 00:17:03.370 --> 00:17:06.470 the US and the Finns already have a project on 00:17:06.470 --> 00:17:08.789 building icebreakers. The Finns still have a 00:17:08.789 --> 00:17:12.390 great shipbuilding capacity. And Canada has been 00:17:12.390 --> 00:17:15.329 working very closely with them. They're looking 00:17:15.329 --> 00:17:18.599 on defense issues now. So there's all kinds of 00:17:18.599 --> 00:17:22.059 opportunity in front of Canada working with its 00:17:22.059 --> 00:17:24.200 European partners and allies. So why don't we 00:17:24.200 --> 00:17:27.339 talk a little bit through the agenda of the summit 00:17:27.339 --> 00:17:30.359 and how the program's going to run. I'll just 00:17:30.359 --> 00:17:33.079 mention to everybody, we're at the London Stock 00:17:33.079 --> 00:17:36.380 Exchange this year. We're very pleased to be 00:17:36.380 --> 00:17:38.900 there. They have great facilities. And of course, 00:17:38.920 --> 00:17:42.019 for those who don't know it well in terms of 00:17:42.019 --> 00:17:44.839 location, it's just across from St. Paul's Cathedral. 00:17:45.970 --> 00:17:49.869 So very, very central in the heart of the city 00:17:49.869 --> 00:17:52.369 of London in the Square Mall. We're going to 00:17:52.369 --> 00:17:56.150 have a full house and we've split up the program. 00:17:56.509 --> 00:17:59.250 There's the theater and the forum. So we've got 00:17:59.250 --> 00:18:01.930 some concurrent sessions. But Rob, why don't 00:18:01.930 --> 00:18:04.390 you kick it off and tell a little bit about how 00:18:04.390 --> 00:18:07.009 we're going to open our summit as we did last 00:18:07.009 --> 00:18:15.059 year? Because this summit is for and by. the 00:18:15.059 --> 00:18:17.339 Indigenous people of Canada. That's how you and 00:18:17.339 --> 00:18:22.019 I are connected through the alliance that our 00:18:22.019 --> 00:18:25.579 forefathers had. Well, actually, my ancestors 00:18:25.579 --> 00:18:28.640 fought under Chief Joseph Brandt. So we're just 00:18:28.640 --> 00:18:31.160 here back serving again out of the leadership. 00:18:31.319 --> 00:18:32.900 But why don't you talk about that? Because I 00:18:32.900 --> 00:18:35.440 think it's really important for people to understand. 00:18:35.900 --> 00:18:39.480 It's going to be a very special day, Mark. I 00:18:39.480 --> 00:18:44.220 think it's the largest Indigenous business delegation 00:18:44.220 --> 00:18:50.400 that will ever have come to london wow i did 00:18:50.400 --> 00:18:53.599 i it probably is so more than the four kings 00:18:53.599 --> 00:18:56.160 who came three or four hundred years what your 00:18:56.160 --> 00:18:59.000 ancestor one of them yeah right back in force 00:18:59.000 --> 00:19:02.299 okay yes and i don't pretend to know exactly 00:19:02.299 --> 00:19:06.279 what numbers of uh entourage were with the four 00:19:06.279 --> 00:19:11.400 kings uh at the time um but In living memory, 00:19:11.559 --> 00:19:15.240 there hasn't been a delegation chief and CEO 00:19:15.240 --> 00:19:21.319 level from across Canada. Every one of them is 00:19:21.319 --> 00:19:25.200 a leader in their community or in their field. 00:19:25.940 --> 00:19:29.319 And we've got them across the board. We're going 00:19:29.319 --> 00:19:33.519 to open with the former Grand Chief of the Mohawk 00:19:33.519 --> 00:19:37.180 Council of Kahnawake, just outside of Montreal. 00:19:38.269 --> 00:19:43.089 Christina Howe Skydeer will open our day in a 00:19:43.089 --> 00:19:46.930 good way with Thanksgiving prayer address in 00:19:46.930 --> 00:19:51.190 Mohawk. And like all Indigenous gatherings, we 00:19:51.190 --> 00:19:54.410 do like to start, as I said, and we say in a 00:19:54.410 --> 00:19:58.789 good way with an opening prayer or acknowledgement 00:19:58.789 --> 00:20:05.329 to put people in the right frame of mind for 00:20:05.329 --> 00:20:08.660 a good day. discussion, healthy dialogue, an 00:20:08.660 --> 00:20:13.759 enjoyable day and cooperation amongst different 00:20:13.759 --> 00:20:17.319 cultures. And then we will move to a fireside 00:20:17.319 --> 00:20:20.480 chat with three of the most senior leaders in 00:20:20.480 --> 00:20:25.079 business and circles in Canada amongst the Indigenous 00:20:25.079 --> 00:20:30.039 peoples and three leading Indigenous organizations 00:20:30.039 --> 00:20:33.700 who are all there supporting Indigenous business 00:20:33.700 --> 00:20:37.720 in different ways. and Indigenous communities 00:20:37.720 --> 00:20:42.380 in different ways. So fireside chat. Sorry, we 00:20:42.380 --> 00:20:44.440 do not have a fire going on in there, right? 00:20:44.519 --> 00:20:46.579 This is obviously a term from North America. 00:20:46.740 --> 00:20:49.000 Let's come into the London Stock Exchange and 00:20:49.000 --> 00:20:52.759 sit by the fire, right? But we've got three outstanding 00:20:52.759 --> 00:20:56.920 leaders. And we're honoured that one of them 00:20:56.920 --> 00:20:59.940 was with us last year and has come back. So why 00:20:59.940 --> 00:21:01.900 don't you explain to our audience, Rob, about 00:21:01.900 --> 00:21:03.980 who these three are that we're going to have 00:21:03.980 --> 00:21:08.759 a... conversation with. So Harold Calla, really 00:21:08.759 --> 00:21:11.799 a founder of an organization called the First 00:21:11.799 --> 00:21:13.980 Nations Financial Management Board. He's been 00:21:13.980 --> 00:21:19.740 there from the start. FNFMB is an organization 00:21:19.740 --> 00:21:24.160 that helps Indigenous First Nations communities 00:21:24.160 --> 00:21:29.579 prepare themselves for the types of transactions 00:21:29.579 --> 00:21:32.200 they would need to do if they want to develop. 00:21:32.839 --> 00:21:35.980 their economies and so for example they they 00:21:35.980 --> 00:21:39.599 run a certification program and you would need 00:21:39.599 --> 00:21:43.039 to pass certain criteria and they'll help you 00:21:43.039 --> 00:21:46.279 do that and they'll help you get established 00:21:46.279 --> 00:21:49.859 and if they put their stamp of approval on your 00:21:49.859 --> 00:21:52.119 community then that allows you to then go out 00:21:52.119 --> 00:21:56.819 and and counterparties do business with you lenders 00:21:56.819 --> 00:22:00.420 borrow or lend to you with confidence that you've 00:22:00.420 --> 00:22:03.279 got the proper financial controls in place. Right, 00:22:03.339 --> 00:22:07.279 which is important not only for the counterparties, 00:22:07.279 --> 00:22:08.759 the corporate partners they're working with, 00:22:08.880 --> 00:22:11.359 but it's also for the communities that those 00:22:11.359 --> 00:22:14.200 negotiating on their behalf are representing. 00:22:14.480 --> 00:22:18.140 So it tells the community, you know, we've got 00:22:18.140 --> 00:22:21.619 good governance in place and it tells our corporate 00:22:21.619 --> 00:22:26.299 partner we're ready to go. Absolutely. So one 00:22:26.299 --> 00:22:28.960 of our other members of the Fireside Chat, along 00:22:28.960 --> 00:22:31.700 with Harold, is Tabitha Bull, who's the President 00:22:31.700 --> 00:22:34.480 and CEO of the Canadian Council for Indigenous 00:22:34.480 --> 00:22:36.960 Business. And Tabitha was with us last year. 00:22:37.599 --> 00:22:42.220 CCIB has been around for 40 years, and it's really 00:22:42.220 --> 00:22:47.160 an association organization of Indigenous businesses. 00:22:48.380 --> 00:22:51.039 Non -Indigenous businesses can be members too. 00:22:51.799 --> 00:22:57.099 It's all about creating partnerships. and building 00:22:57.099 --> 00:23:02.140 up Canadian Indigenous businesses. It's an organization 00:23:02.140 --> 00:23:04.420 near and dear to my heart because I had a summer 00:23:04.420 --> 00:23:08.359 job when it was established 40 years ago. My 00:23:08.359 --> 00:23:12.279 first office summer job was helping them put 00:23:12.279 --> 00:23:16.039 a directory. Were your parents working there 00:23:16.039 --> 00:23:17.940 too and they brought you along and put you in 00:23:17.940 --> 00:23:21.740 the bay or you're a little older than you look? 00:23:21.839 --> 00:23:26.289 Is that it? Something like that. But they've 00:23:26.289 --> 00:23:31.150 since grown to, I think, almost 2 ,500 member 00:23:31.150 --> 00:23:35.470 organizations. Some very large organizations 00:23:35.470 --> 00:23:40.910 in Canada are members. McCarthy Tatro is a member. 00:23:41.670 --> 00:23:44.170 Okay, so it's non -Indigenous and Indigenous. 00:23:45.609 --> 00:23:48.490 Yes. Corporates and businesses. Okay. It's all 00:23:48.490 --> 00:23:53.359 about partnerships. And growing the Indigenous 00:23:53.359 --> 00:23:56.980 economy and supporting Indigenous businesses. 00:23:57.900 --> 00:24:00.640 And then supporting non -Indigenous businesses 00:24:00.640 --> 00:24:04.960 do business in Indigenous communities. I've been 00:24:04.960 --> 00:24:09.240 a CEO for about five years now. Great. And our 00:24:09.240 --> 00:24:12.359 third guest is Mark Podlasny. He's the CEO of 00:24:12.359 --> 00:24:15.740 the First Nations Major Project Coalition. Tell 00:24:15.740 --> 00:24:17.279 us a little bit about Mark and that organization. 00:24:18.029 --> 00:24:24.029 Yeah, FNMPC has just exploded over the last 10 00:24:24.029 --> 00:24:27.150 years, gone from a small organization set up 00:24:27.150 --> 00:24:32.509 to help First Nations who were getting involved 00:24:32.509 --> 00:24:36.690 in major projects and didn't have the capacity 00:24:36.690 --> 00:24:41.410 or the expertise to pull those off. And so FNMPC 00:24:41.410 --> 00:24:46.180 helps those communities get... the resource they 00:24:46.180 --> 00:24:49.200 need and helps them through the execution completion 00:24:49.200 --> 00:24:55.160 of these major projects and they are now a major 00:24:55.160 --> 00:24:59.160 force across canada great can you explain the 00:24:59.160 --> 00:25:04.019 differences between those three i would say ccib 00:25:04.019 --> 00:25:09.859 is helping business do more business helping 00:25:09.859 --> 00:25:13.490 businesses grow helping Indigenous businesses 00:25:13.490 --> 00:25:17.670 do business with non -Indigenous companies, helping 00:25:17.670 --> 00:25:20.390 non -Indigenous businesses understand Indigenous 00:25:20.390 --> 00:25:22.410 communities and understand the opportunities 00:25:22.410 --> 00:25:28.390 with Indigenous businesses. FNMB, the Financial 00:25:28.390 --> 00:25:32.549 Management Board, is helping communities get 00:25:32.549 --> 00:25:36.630 qualified and make them ready to do business 00:25:36.630 --> 00:25:41.299 with... Big players in the Canadian economy who 00:25:41.299 --> 00:25:43.299 expect to see certain things if they're going 00:25:43.299 --> 00:25:46.480 to lend significant amounts of money to them 00:25:46.480 --> 00:25:48.700 or invest significant amounts in their communities. 00:25:48.980 --> 00:25:52.779 So helping them put their financial affairs in 00:25:52.779 --> 00:25:59.640 a place that is suitable for big business. And 00:25:59.640 --> 00:26:03.700 then FNMPC, the Major Projects Coalition, they're 00:26:03.700 --> 00:26:06.859 helping communities actually execute big project 00:26:06.859 --> 00:26:11.319 transactions. So it could be pipelines and other 00:26:11.319 --> 00:26:15.200 types of major infrastructure projects. Yeah, 00:26:15.220 --> 00:26:18.279 so really once the agreement's ready, then it's 00:26:18.279 --> 00:26:22.099 resourcing up so the Indigenous partner has all 00:26:22.099 --> 00:26:24.339 the resources and capabilities to successfully 00:26:24.339 --> 00:26:27.559 bring the project through, really, from the agreement 00:26:27.559 --> 00:26:31.220 onwards. Yeah, well, FNMPC, they're actually 00:26:31.220 --> 00:26:36.009 involved earlier, even at concept stage. and 00:26:36.009 --> 00:26:40.190 helping bring in advisors and a team of experts 00:26:40.190 --> 00:26:44.490 to help negotiate those agreements and then to 00:26:44.490 --> 00:26:48.250 actually see the projects through as well. Great. 00:26:48.369 --> 00:26:52.329 Well, that'll be a great conversation for all 00:26:52.329 --> 00:26:54.609 our delegates to really get an understanding 00:26:54.609 --> 00:27:00.130 about, you know, how the Indigenous peoples are 00:27:00.130 --> 00:27:02.150 shaping the future and some of the key organizations 00:27:02.150 --> 00:27:05.259 that they will hear about. If they go do anything 00:27:05.259 --> 00:27:07.140 with the Indigenous peoples in Canada, they will 00:27:07.140 --> 00:27:09.539 come across those three organizations. So that 00:27:09.539 --> 00:27:12.779 will be a great conversation. And, you know, 00:27:12.779 --> 00:27:15.720 we're honored to have those three leaders there 00:27:15.720 --> 00:27:18.980 to kick off that session. And then the next session 00:27:18.980 --> 00:27:23.599 is going to be about investing in capital and 00:27:23.599 --> 00:27:25.980 transforming Indigenous participation in capital 00:27:25.980 --> 00:27:30.819 markets. Yeah, Cedar Leaf Capital, making waves 00:27:30.819 --> 00:27:35.650 in the Canadian capital markets. by being an 00:27:35.650 --> 00:27:41.569 Indigenous -controlled securities dealer, starting 00:27:41.569 --> 00:27:46.470 in the capital markets. All credit to Scotia 00:27:46.470 --> 00:27:52.089 Bank in Canada for sponsoring Cedar Leaf being 00:27:52.089 --> 00:27:55.490 a major shareholder themselves and helping Cedar 00:27:55.490 --> 00:27:58.869 Leaf get to a point where Scotia has said publicly 00:27:58.869 --> 00:28:01.410 they expect to relinquish their shareholdings. 00:28:02.269 --> 00:28:05.349 in the short to medium term. So they'll help 00:28:05.349 --> 00:28:10.009 Cedar Leaf get off the ground. Maybe become a 00:28:10.009 --> 00:28:14.190 competitor in a way. Yes. And so that's really 00:28:14.190 --> 00:28:18.569 exciting. And they're on a number of the bond 00:28:18.569 --> 00:28:21.089 syndicates, right? I think the Canadian Pension 00:28:21.089 --> 00:28:25.109 Plan, I think there was one that just came out 00:28:25.109 --> 00:28:26.730 the other day. I think three or four, they've 00:28:26.730 --> 00:28:29.170 signed up very quickly. And they're getting recognition. 00:28:30.160 --> 00:28:32.640 Because they have the capabilities to participate, 00:28:32.900 --> 00:28:35.420 plus they're Indigenous -led. And as you said, 00:28:35.519 --> 00:28:40.579 Scotia has empowered and enabled this to happen. 00:28:40.640 --> 00:28:44.420 But there's two or three Indigenous nations who 00:28:44.420 --> 00:28:46.980 actually will be our shareholders and will be 00:28:46.980 --> 00:28:49.579 even larger shareholders in the future. And they're 00:28:49.579 --> 00:28:52.880 joining Clint Davis, the CEO of Cedar Leaf Capital, 00:28:52.960 --> 00:28:56.640 on that panel as well. Sean Willey, the CEO of 00:28:56.640 --> 00:29:00.500 the Desnetti Group. and Chief Ted Williams, the 00:29:00.500 --> 00:29:04.400 chief of the Chippewa of Rama. So with Chief 00:29:04.400 --> 00:29:07.039 Ted Williams, chief of the Chippewa of Rama, 00:29:07.180 --> 00:29:10.680 for many Canadians, they will know about Rama 00:29:10.680 --> 00:29:13.720 Casino. And when we had Chief Williams on our 00:29:13.720 --> 00:29:15.740 podcast, he was talking about this. And if you 00:29:15.740 --> 00:29:19.339 grew up in southern Ontario or those states, 00:29:19.859 --> 00:29:22.099 you know, 60 % of the US population is within, 00:29:22.160 --> 00:29:25.740 I don't know, six or 700 miles of Toronto, which 00:29:25.740 --> 00:29:31.269 is not far from. where the casino is, you grew 00:29:31.269 --> 00:29:34.509 up with Casino Rama. You know, it was always 00:29:34.509 --> 00:29:38.470 being advertised. And Chief Ted was telling us 00:29:38.470 --> 00:29:41.630 that what happened is the money they made from 00:29:41.630 --> 00:29:45.069 that then gave them enough capital. So they're 00:29:45.069 --> 00:29:47.630 basically self -sufficient. Yes, they still get 00:29:47.630 --> 00:29:49.910 contribution from the federal government as per 00:29:49.910 --> 00:29:52.890 their treaty rights. But more important, they 00:29:52.890 --> 00:29:54.950 have enough capital that they've now been able 00:29:54.950 --> 00:29:58.160 to invest and see. Cedar Leaf Capital. They were 00:29:58.160 --> 00:29:59.660 called to the party because they know how to 00:29:59.660 --> 00:30:01.759 run financial affairs well. They know how to 00:30:01.759 --> 00:30:03.940 do business and have the capital participate. 00:30:04.339 --> 00:30:07.259 That is a success story. So that'll be a really 00:30:07.259 --> 00:30:10.059 interesting conversation too, because there you 00:30:10.059 --> 00:30:13.640 have successful, already successful Indigenous 00:30:13.640 --> 00:30:16.500 player in the capital markets. And it's probably 00:30:16.500 --> 00:30:19.279 going to have a great future because if there 00:30:19.279 --> 00:30:22.319 is an Indigenous transaction, why wouldn't you 00:30:22.319 --> 00:30:25.980 be working with them? And if you're not, You 00:30:25.980 --> 00:30:28.299 better start to work with them anyway and learn 00:30:28.299 --> 00:30:32.859 how to work effectively with an Indigenous corporate. 00:30:33.160 --> 00:30:37.319 And as you said, kudos to Scotiabank for enabling 00:30:37.319 --> 00:30:40.759 this transaction to take place. Yeah, again, 00:30:40.839 --> 00:30:43.660 we're very lucky. This is a very senior group 00:30:43.660 --> 00:30:46.599 of leaders who've been involved in lots of different 00:30:46.599 --> 00:30:49.720 organizations and transactions over the years. 00:30:49.779 --> 00:30:52.460 It'll be really interesting to get their perspectives. 00:30:55.400 --> 00:30:59.859 East Coast, East North. Anyway, you've got Sean 00:30:59.859 --> 00:31:04.180 Willey from the West. You've got Chief Ted from 00:31:04.180 --> 00:31:09.660 Central Canada. And all coming together. We've 00:31:09.660 --> 00:31:12.400 got another shareholder in the group from British 00:31:12.400 --> 00:31:15.519 Columbia who won't be with us, but it'll be really 00:31:15.519 --> 00:31:18.660 interesting to get their perspectives. Yes, fantastic. 00:31:19.220 --> 00:31:23.920 So then we move from the capital markets. to 00:31:23.920 --> 00:31:25.980 something that's involved in the capital markets 00:31:25.980 --> 00:31:29.019 quite a bit. It's about the energy transition 00:31:29.019 --> 00:31:32.359 that's really happening in Saskatchewan. And 00:31:32.359 --> 00:31:35.599 we have Matt Smith, the CEO of the Saskatchewan 00:31:35.599 --> 00:31:38.880 Indigenous Investment Finance Corporation, which 00:31:38.880 --> 00:31:42.799 is an arm of the Saskatchewan government, along 00:31:42.799 --> 00:31:45.859 with Chief Tammy Cook -Searson, Chief of the 00:31:45.859 --> 00:31:50.160 Lac La Ronge Indian Band, and Matthew Vermette, 00:31:50.279 --> 00:31:51.980 who's the Chief Operating Officer of the Métis 00:31:51.980 --> 00:31:54.079 Nation of Saskatchewan. And they're going to 00:31:54.079 --> 00:31:57.400 be talking about all the exciting stuff that's 00:31:57.400 --> 00:32:00.039 happening in Saskatchewan. And many people might 00:32:00.039 --> 00:32:02.319 not register, oh, Saskatchewan, where's that? 00:32:02.440 --> 00:32:04.460 Well, it's in the middle of the country. But 00:32:04.460 --> 00:32:07.980 most likely, if your country uses uranium, they're 00:32:07.980 --> 00:32:10.059 also one of the biggest potash producers in the 00:32:10.059 --> 00:32:13.000 world, which is fertilizer for basically all 00:32:13.000 --> 00:32:16.720 the agricultural products out there. This is 00:32:16.720 --> 00:32:19.880 where it all comes from. And they're also looking 00:32:19.880 --> 00:32:23.380 at... nuclear energy and small modular reactors. 00:32:23.619 --> 00:32:25.359 So that's going to be a great panel as well. 00:32:25.619 --> 00:32:28.960 A very special panel, Chief Tammy Cook -Searson 00:32:28.960 --> 00:32:33.559 in particular. She's a board member of Cameco, 00:32:33.759 --> 00:32:39.359 one of the biggest producers of uranium in the 00:32:39.359 --> 00:32:43.680 world, and I think the biggest employer of Indigenous 00:32:43.680 --> 00:32:47.599 people in the country. And her father was an 00:32:47.599 --> 00:32:50.660 original Board member of Cameco. She's on the 00:32:50.660 --> 00:32:53.980 board of Cameco. This panel has a lot of experience 00:32:53.980 --> 00:32:58.000 in this sector. And the fourth member of the 00:32:58.000 --> 00:33:02.779 panel is Sheldon Wutune, who's President and 00:33:02.779 --> 00:33:05.579 CEO of Saskatchewan First Nations Natural Resource 00:33:05.579 --> 00:33:09.079 Centre of Excellence, which I think outside of 00:33:09.079 --> 00:33:12.660 Canadian group in Ottawa at the federal level 00:33:12.660 --> 00:33:16.759 is one of the largest R &D centres in Canada. 00:33:18.089 --> 00:33:21.769 Then another well -known case study coming up 00:33:21.769 --> 00:33:25.849 is Cedar LNG project on the West Coast. Yeah, 00:33:25.910 --> 00:33:29.970 we've had Chief Crystal Smith on podcast. As 00:33:29.970 --> 00:33:32.730 a reminder, the Cedar LNG project is one of the 00:33:32.730 --> 00:33:36.670 great success stories. They are well -advanced 00:33:36.670 --> 00:33:43.490 stage of creating an LNG terminal that will be 00:33:43.490 --> 00:33:48.549 majority owned by the Haisla Nation. on the West 00:33:48.549 --> 00:33:52.450 Coast of British Columbia. So Chief Crystal Smith 00:33:52.450 --> 00:33:55.869 will be with us to talk about that. And also 00:33:55.869 --> 00:33:59.990 Ernie Daniels, the President and CEO of the First 00:33:59.990 --> 00:34:03.829 Nations Finance Authority. FNFA was involved 00:34:03.829 --> 00:34:07.390 in the financing of Cedar LNG. So we'll hear 00:34:07.390 --> 00:34:11.210 how that project has come together, what the 00:34:11.210 --> 00:34:14.630 status is, when it will be fully operational. 00:34:15.480 --> 00:34:20.679 And our moderator is, again, the Senehawe Skydeer, 00:34:20.820 --> 00:34:26.820 who, when she was Grand Chief to Kahnawake near 00:34:26.820 --> 00:34:29.960 Montreal, she was involved in power projects 00:34:29.960 --> 00:34:34.480 with Hydro -Quebec major projects. And so she 00:34:34.480 --> 00:34:38.440 saw those through to completion during her reign. 00:34:38.539 --> 00:34:42.780 And so she'll have a perspective as well on power 00:34:42.780 --> 00:34:46.269 projects in Canada. There are plenty more that 00:34:46.269 --> 00:34:52.210 need to be built in the coming years. Yes, and 00:34:52.210 --> 00:34:53.989 so that's going to be a fantastic conversation 00:34:53.989 --> 00:34:57.010 about power. And just to remind some of our listeners, 00:34:57.090 --> 00:35:00.730 when the pipes were turned off in Europe with 00:35:00.730 --> 00:35:03.349 Russia, one of the first places Germany went 00:35:03.349 --> 00:35:09.309 was to Canada to see about buying LNG from Canada. 00:35:09.659 --> 00:35:11.380 Unfortunately, it didn't take place at the time, 00:35:11.420 --> 00:35:13.179 but I think with all the changes that are going 00:35:13.179 --> 00:35:16.940 on, it just reinforces for many European countries, 00:35:17.000 --> 00:35:20.119 as for many around the world, Canada is a preferred 00:35:20.119 --> 00:35:25.840 partner. So if it can be unshackled in terms 00:35:25.840 --> 00:35:28.139 of a lot of the barriers, now that the indigenous 00:35:28.139 --> 00:35:30.280 peoples have their rights and are sitting at 00:35:30.280 --> 00:35:32.480 the table, there's huge opportunity in front 00:35:32.480 --> 00:35:35.119 of the country. So that'll be a great session, 00:35:35.239 --> 00:35:37.780 Rob. And then at the same time, we're having 00:35:37.780 --> 00:35:41.570 a... Another session, which is slightly different, 00:35:41.710 --> 00:35:46.630 about Indigenous -led investment vehicles. And 00:35:46.630 --> 00:35:49.590 if I recall, Rob, I think this is your panel 00:35:49.590 --> 00:35:51.949 you're going to chair? Yes, I'll be speaking 00:35:51.949 --> 00:35:56.230 with three special guests. Andrew Hungerford 00:35:56.230 --> 00:35:59.670 from British Columbia, one of the founders. Hungerford 00:35:59.670 --> 00:36:03.949 Properties is a well -established and old Canadian 00:36:03.949 --> 00:36:07.000 real estate company. with a couple of billion 00:36:07.000 --> 00:36:11.619 dollars of assets under management. And Seven 00:36:11.619 --> 00:36:14.800 Generation Capital is a new fund that's been 00:36:14.800 --> 00:36:17.980 established. They've had a first closing, so 00:36:17.980 --> 00:36:20.699 they've raised some money, and there's more to 00:36:20.699 --> 00:36:24.079 come. But they will focus on real estate projects 00:36:24.079 --> 00:36:29.480 in Indigenous communities. With that fund, Barbara 00:36:29.480 --> 00:36:32.300 McKenzie is the CEO of the Métis Settlement Development 00:36:32.300 --> 00:36:35.400 Corporation. which is the development corporation 00:36:35.400 --> 00:36:40.699 of the Métis communities in Alberta that have 00:36:40.699 --> 00:36:45.440 signed settlements with the government. And they 00:36:45.440 --> 00:36:47.280 have some of their own money and they're also 00:36:47.280 --> 00:36:51.820 raising other money. And their investment focus 00:36:51.820 --> 00:36:54.119 is a little bit different from Seven Generations. 00:36:54.119 --> 00:36:57.139 It's not restricted to any one particular sector. 00:36:57.659 --> 00:37:01.320 They're also looking at growth opportunities 00:37:01.320 --> 00:37:05.260 and growth businesses. And they've got a really 00:37:05.260 --> 00:37:09.219 high -level board and expertise within the Métis 00:37:09.219 --> 00:37:12.619 Settlement Development Corp. And also Patrick 00:37:12.619 --> 00:37:16.119 Berthoud. Patrick is the Managing Director and 00:37:16.119 --> 00:37:18.400 Co -Head of Canadian Debt Capital Markets at 00:37:18.400 --> 00:37:21.980 Scotiabank. He was intimately involved in the 00:37:21.980 --> 00:37:28.199 creation of Cedar Leaf. And so he will talk about 00:37:28.199 --> 00:37:33.800 Scotiabank's take on... some of these Indigenous 00:37:33.800 --> 00:37:38.800 -led investment vehicles and where they see some 00:37:38.800 --> 00:37:41.800 opportunities. And then after lunch, we'll get 00:37:41.800 --> 00:37:45.599 back into another case study in the theatre at 00:37:45.599 --> 00:37:48.500 the LSE. We've got the English River First Nation 00:37:48.500 --> 00:37:52.940 and Denison Mines talking about their work in 00:37:52.940 --> 00:37:56.039 northern Saskatchewan again. Yes, I love these 00:37:56.039 --> 00:37:59.480 ones from the prairies, as you know, Rob. I was 00:37:59.480 --> 00:38:01.619 born out there, so it's always good to see strong 00:38:01.619 --> 00:38:04.780 representation from what are smaller provinces 00:38:04.780 --> 00:38:07.380 in terms of population. But actually, Saskatchewan 00:38:07.380 --> 00:38:09.480 and Manitoba have one of the largest percentage 00:38:09.480 --> 00:38:13.760 of Indigenous people. And the Premier of Manitoba 00:38:13.760 --> 00:38:16.360 is actually an Indigenous leader now, which is 00:38:16.360 --> 00:38:20.400 the first in Canada. But this panel, we have 00:38:20.400 --> 00:38:23.699 Carol Ann English -McKee. Carol Ann's from Denison 00:38:23.699 --> 00:38:28.440 Mines. Cheyenne Hunt. From English River First 00:38:28.440 --> 00:38:31.679 Nation. We have the president and CEO of Denison 00:38:31.679 --> 00:38:35.579 Mines, David Cates. And we have Sean Willigain, 00:38:35.679 --> 00:38:38.659 who we mentioned earlier in our program today. 00:38:39.000 --> 00:38:42.159 That's a great project because it demonstrates 00:38:42.159 --> 00:38:47.320 how a corporate works successfully with an Indigenous 00:38:47.320 --> 00:38:54.559 community to bring a project to fruition. It 00:38:54.559 --> 00:38:57.239 really gives some insights in the importance 00:38:57.239 --> 00:39:02.280 of that long -term partnership. Because there 00:39:02.280 --> 00:39:04.380 has been a lot of bad experiences for Indigenous 00:39:04.380 --> 00:39:07.599 communities over the years with different firms. 00:39:07.699 --> 00:39:10.300 But I think Denison has kind of set a gold standard 00:39:10.300 --> 00:39:13.780 into how to approach it. So I think that is going 00:39:13.780 --> 00:39:17.460 to be a very informative session for our delegates. 00:39:18.239 --> 00:39:22.340 So another session coming up after that is the 00:39:22.340 --> 00:39:24.960 Indigenous Economies. insights, experiences, 00:39:25.219 --> 00:39:28.420 and the case for growth. And I think this is 00:39:28.420 --> 00:39:31.659 going to be another solid conversation, very 00:39:31.659 --> 00:39:35.900 informative, very engaging. And we have the Honourable 00:39:35.900 --> 00:39:38.980 Lisa Wright from CIBC, Vice -Chair of CIBC Capital 00:39:38.980 --> 00:39:41.260 Markets, coming back again this year, and she'll 00:39:41.260 --> 00:39:44.659 be moderating that panel. Yeah, another stellar 00:39:44.659 --> 00:39:50.139 cast of Indigenous leaders from across Canada, 00:39:50.159 --> 00:39:52.960 from the West Coast, we've got Chief Derek Epp. 00:39:53.780 --> 00:40:00.019 Jackton Chief First Nation, who is also now the 00:40:00.019 --> 00:40:03.340 chair of the First Nations Finance Authority. 00:40:04.340 --> 00:40:07.000 A lot of experience and development in his own 00:40:07.000 --> 00:40:11.059 community and now taking on national responsibilities 00:40:11.059 --> 00:40:14.760 too. Tabitha Bull will be on that panel as well. 00:40:14.800 --> 00:40:19.360 We've spoken about her. And Scott Monroe, who 00:40:19.360 --> 00:40:24.820 is also as Harold Calla. is from the First Nations 00:40:24.820 --> 00:40:28.199 Financial Management Board. And Scott is the 00:40:28.199 --> 00:40:32.840 CEO. He was with us last year. And he'll talk 00:40:32.840 --> 00:40:38.199 more about FNFMB's plans and what they're seeing 00:40:38.199 --> 00:40:42.900 across the country. And Mark Silvestro is joining 00:40:42.900 --> 00:40:47.159 us this year. Mark has had a number of hats on 00:40:47.159 --> 00:40:51.059 over the years all around the Indigenous. We 00:40:51.059 --> 00:40:55.239 spoke to him on a podcast not long ago. He's 00:40:55.239 --> 00:40:57.699 from the Six Nations of the Grand River, First 00:40:57.699 --> 00:41:03.260 Nation in Ontario. I'm sure Lisa will get a lot 00:41:03.260 --> 00:41:07.179 of each of those people. That'll be really interesting. 00:41:07.539 --> 00:41:10.380 Yes, that'll be a great conversation. We've got 00:41:10.380 --> 00:41:16.559 another great business case. 10 Clearwater Seafoods, 00:41:16.559 --> 00:41:20.360 which has been a real game changer. not for Indigenous 00:41:20.360 --> 00:41:23.460 people and businesses, but a real game changer 00:41:23.460 --> 00:41:26.400 changing the landscape of corporate Canada. Yeah, 00:41:26.480 --> 00:41:29.860 this is a real treat because, and an honour, 00:41:29.940 --> 00:41:33.300 Chief Terry Paul, who is the chief of the member 00:41:33.300 --> 00:41:36.719 two First Nation on the east coast of Canada, 00:41:36.920 --> 00:41:40.539 Nova Scotia. He's been chief for 40 years now. 00:41:41.619 --> 00:41:46.539 He's seen a lot. He's been involved in a battle 00:41:46.539 --> 00:41:50.829 for... Indigenous rights over the years and economic 00:41:50.829 --> 00:41:53.949 development. He's been a leader on that front 00:41:53.949 --> 00:41:58.230 too. He doesn't travel as much as he used to 00:41:58.230 --> 00:42:02.170 and he doesn't do conferences like he might have 00:42:02.170 --> 00:42:06.349 done one day. So he is honouring us with his 00:42:06.349 --> 00:42:08.969 presence and going to talk about the Clearwater 00:42:08.969 --> 00:42:11.570 acquisition and some of the other things that 00:42:11.570 --> 00:42:15.289 member two have done and are looking to do because 00:42:15.289 --> 00:42:17.599 they're not done. They've bought. the seafood 00:42:17.599 --> 00:42:21.780 company. They bought the dockyards recently and 00:42:21.780 --> 00:42:26.199 they've got other plans, bigger plans. And Steve 00:42:26.199 --> 00:42:30.179 Berna will moderate that panel. And Steve has 00:42:30.179 --> 00:42:35.840 gone from COO of the FNFA to a new role with 00:42:35.840 --> 00:42:41.440 National Bank. And so he's taken on a new role. 00:42:42.360 --> 00:42:44.699 and some of the other players who were involved 00:42:44.699 --> 00:42:48.500 in the Clearwater acquisition, Troy McDonald 00:42:48.500 --> 00:42:55.019 of Doan Grant Thornton, and Jim Gauguin of McInnes 00:42:55.019 --> 00:42:59.340 Cooper will be on that panel too. That is going 00:42:59.340 --> 00:43:01.360 to be a great panel as well. Those are some, 00:43:01.460 --> 00:43:04.219 I think we've got, as you said, it's one of the 00:43:04.219 --> 00:43:06.719 largest groups coming over here, but we have 00:43:06.719 --> 00:43:11.659 some great leaders, case studies, insights. I'm 00:43:11.659 --> 00:43:13.719 so excited about the summit that's coming up. 00:43:15.340 --> 00:43:17.300 We're very pleased with what we achieved in the 00:43:17.300 --> 00:43:21.639 first year, but I think with all the contributions 00:43:21.639 --> 00:43:23.900 we've had and the people wanting to work with 00:43:23.900 --> 00:43:27.340 us and participate, I think this is just going 00:43:27.340 --> 00:43:29.420 to be a great summit. Couldn't agree more, Mark. 00:43:30.340 --> 00:43:33.719 Great. So something really special that's just 00:43:33.719 --> 00:43:35.679 happened. It looks like we're going to have Minister 00:43:35.679 --> 00:43:39.380 Greg Rickford from Ontario, who's the Minister 00:43:39.380 --> 00:43:42.000 of Indigenous Affairs. First Nations Economic 00:43:42.000 --> 00:43:45.519 Reconciliation, and minister responsible for 00:43:45.519 --> 00:43:47.760 the Ring of Fire Economic Community Partnership 00:43:47.760 --> 00:43:53.940 joining us. Yeah, Minister Rickford, he's been 00:43:53.940 --> 00:43:57.980 the Indigenous Affairs Minister for a few years, 00:43:58.039 --> 00:44:00.860 but now he's taken on these other portfolios, 00:44:00.860 --> 00:44:03.539 including, I think it's a new one, specifically 00:44:03.539 --> 00:44:06.800 about the Ring of Fire in Northern Ontario, which 00:44:06.800 --> 00:44:11.460 is an area designated. a number of critical minerals, 00:44:11.639 --> 00:44:17.559 and a real hot spot, hence the name, for future 00:44:17.559 --> 00:44:21.559 development. Wow. Of course, a great event like 00:44:21.559 --> 00:44:24.980 the upcoming summit can happen without great 00:44:24.980 --> 00:44:28.179 sponsors. And we'd like to thank all of our sponsors, 00:44:28.340 --> 00:44:31.260 our platinum sponsors, McCarthy Tetrell and Scotiabank, 00:44:31.440 --> 00:44:35.420 our silver sponsors, CIBC and the Saskatchewan 00:44:35.420 --> 00:44:38.079 Indigenous Investment Finance Corporation, and 00:44:38.079 --> 00:44:40.880 our bronze sponsors. Anglo American, National 00:44:40.880 --> 00:44:44.420 Bank of Canada, Denison Mines, and the Government 00:44:44.420 --> 00:44:48.860 of Ontario Canada. Anyway, it's been great, Rob. 00:44:48.940 --> 00:44:51.159 Look forward to having you back in London and 00:44:51.159 --> 00:44:54.260 being at the summit with you. I can't wait, Mark. 00:44:54.440 --> 00:44:57.280 I'll see you very soon. Great. Mark for now. 00:44:57.679 --> 00:45:00.480 Bye. We look forward to seeing many of you at 00:45:00.480 --> 00:45:02.940 the upcoming summit. Be sure to share, subscribe, 00:45:03.139 --> 00:45:05.280 and leave a review on your favorite podcast channel. 00:45:05.900 --> 00:45:08.360 Thanks for listening to Drumbeats. Until next 00:45:08.360 --> 00:45:08.739 time.